Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-05-31
HuMoR IN HISTORY.
The Introduction Into England of tho
Art OF Practical JolSing.

Art OF Practical Joking.
The early Saxons had no humor.
During the English heptarchy, tho pet
ty Kings were never known to smile
except when inflicting punishment on
an enemy; Cutting of mans head
was regarded as practical joke, hui
the victim did not see any mirth in the
performance. The Normans were the
first to carry humor into England. The
conqucror was rare joker, that is. his
jokes were extremely rare. Johns
jokes were expensive. On one occasion
he levied fine of ten thousand marks
on wealthy Jew Of Bristol. The jew
refused to pay the sum.
"All right" said John. at is your
business not to pay. but it is my busi-
ness to see that you do" Then. call
ing an officer. the King remarked:
"Take this man in custody, treat him
well, but pull one of his teeth each
day until he heartily embraces my
proposition"
Tho next morning the officer pulled
one tooth. The rich Hebrew was noted
for his fine teeth. They had won an
extended reputation for him, and. nat
urally enough, ho valued them highly.
When the officer reported that he had
pulled one tooth, tho King asked:
"How did he stand itp"
"lle groaned, but said nothing"
"All right, feed him on. tough beef
and koop up the performance
The next morning when the officer
went into Jacobs cell, the old man
said:
why do you persist in pulling my
best teethPh
because, my dear sir, the King will
have none but the best He argues
that the best is always the cheapest"
alt may be for him. but not for me"
THAT'S all right" the officer re-
piled. ''but the King did not send me
here to argue. Opcn your mouth"
Another tooth was drawn. tooth
which had above all others won the
affections Of tho old man. The per-
formance was repeated every day un-
til ten teeth wero extracted. On the
morning of the eleventh day the Off
Ger, upon entering the cell, found the
old man violently and painfully wor-
rYing with piece of beef.
Come, old man.
The old man put down his beef,
looked appealhlg9 at the officer, and
saitA
"Can't you givn a man time to eat'
l am nearly starved"
"You have had plenty of time, and,
aside from that the Kings motto is:
DUTY before pleasure. }"
u can't afford 70 give up any more
teeth. - ~
'Well, then, give me an order for
the money"
Tho order was given and the Hebrew
gentleman, accompanied by the rest of
his teeth. was suffered to depart DIR.
Killinghopper, in his treatise on the
"Rise and Progress OF Dentistry, says
that rich jews teeth were, in different
parts Of the kingdom, hung out In
front OF the dentists offices, and that
to-day one Of them may be seen in
Bristol This tooth, tho doctor goes
on 10 say, is, on account OF its long
roots and the ghastly suggestions
which 1t inspires, much valued by den
fists.
The private account-book. which, ac-
cording to Hume. was kept by Edward
III. shows that crown was paid to a
fool for making tho King laugh Ed
ward, after bestowing the piecc of
money on the clown, should have felt
a warm sympathy for him. for he, like
Edward, was fool with a crown.
This King experienced great trouble in
laughs. Sometimes the most
extensive advertising failed even TO
bring giggle. .-Arkansa,o 7rdreler.